Cymbal



United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert Paiste Nottwil, Switzerland[2] Appl. No. 793,093 [22] Filed Jan. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 15,I970 [73] Assignee R. 8: T. Paiste KG Gong and Cymbal ProductionNottwil, Switzerland a corporation of Switzerland [32] Priority Feb. 20,1968 [3 3 Switzerland [31 1 No. 2489/68 Pat. 465,370

[54] CYMBAL 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig. [52] [1.8. CI 84/402, 84/422 [51]lnt.Cl ..Gl0d 13/06 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson AssistantExaminer-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-Jacobi & Davidson ABSTRACT: Thereis disclosed a cymbal possessing the form of a substantially lenslike,arched, flat bowl or plate. Such bowl or plate may possess a wallthickness which decreases towards its edge or else is approximatelyuniform throughout. Upon striking of the cymbal, it will ring outwithout. natural resonance.

CYMBAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly relatesto improvements in percussion instruments, and in its more specificaspects, concerns a new type of cymbal.

Today, cymbals are essentially distinguished from one another throughtwo basic shapes or forms: The Chinese-type and the Turkish-typecymbals. While the Turkish-type cymbal has found application in Europeanmusic, and especially also in modern music, the Chinese-type cymbal hasbeen less wide- -ly accepted since it does not generally tend to fulfillthe requisite musical appreciation.

The previous known cymbals possess the. shape of a flat bowl or platewhich at its outer region is lens-shaped and which at its central regiontransforms into a dome which protrudes past the lens-shaped arch.The'cymbals of the Turkish-type possess the characteristics that afterthey have been struck at their edge or rim produce an amplification ofthe sound due to natural resonance, and thereafter the sound graduallyloses its intensity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary objecting of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved cymbal which is more compatiblewith modern music, which is especially based upon rhythm, and whichreduces or completely eliminates the natural resonance effect ofpresently known cymbals with the therewith associated amplification andprolonged ringing, while at the same time retaining the cymballikesound.

Another significant object of the present invention is to provide animproved cymbal which after being struck will ring out without naturalresonance.

Extensive tests have proven that the objectives of the invention can beattained if the usual dome which has been used for hundreds of yearswith cymbals is omitted.

Accordingly, the invention cymbal is manifested by the features that itpossesses the shape or form of a substantially lenslike arched orcurved, flat bowl or plate. In putting the teachings of the inventioninto practice,- it is possible for the lenslike bowl to be formed by aspherical segment which is equipped at its central region with .a holeor aperture for suspending the cymbal, much in the mannerprovided for atconventional cymbals.

Moreover,' the invention contemplates that the wall thickness of thelens-shaped bowl orplate can be either approximately the same thicknessthroughout, whereby the ringshaped ribs which are often present duringmanufacture, remain unnoticed, or the wall thickness 'can be reducedtowards the edges of the cymbal.

If a cymbal is constructed in accordance with the aforementionedteachings of the invention, then it will not possess the resonanceeffects which are to be prevented. As a general rule, after the cymbalis struck, the sound will also die down quicker or dissipate much morequickly than with a conventional cymbal possessing a dome. However, ifthe lens-shaped bowl is not permitted to run out flat, rather if thereis chosen, for instance, a spherical segment which is closer withrespect to the height of the sphere to the bell-shape than thebowlshape, then nonetheless a resonance effect could occur. This shouldbe prevented by the teachings of the invention.

The inventive cymbal can be constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention in different ways with respect to itsdiameter, curvature, wall thickness and material.

Up to now, it has not been possible to completely explain why theinventive cymbal with respect to the standard cymbals having a domepermits the retention of the cymballike sound,

but prevents natural resonance. It would have been more probable toexpect, on the one hand, the loss of the cymballike sound and, on theother hand, the retention of the natural resonance or even anamplification thereof. This is so because the dome due to its relativelypronounced curvature and due to the curved transition connectionlocations which join the dome with the outer portion of the cymbalprovide reinforcement which should have the effect of dampeningoscillations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent, when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawing wherein the single FIG. shows a schematic sectional view throughthe center of the inventive cymbal shown in full lines, and wherein thephantom lines depict the dome corresponding to the conventional shape ofpresent-day cymbals.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, it willbe recognized that the inventive cymbal possesses the shape of asubstantially lenslike arched or curved fiat bowl or plate. It will beseen to comprise the outer rim portion 1 which directly merges along asubstantially circular arc with the central region 2, so that both outerrim portions 1 are connected with the central region or portion 2 into acircular curve. On the other hand, with the prior art cymbal at thelocation of the central portion 2 of the inventive cymbal there would beprovided a dome 22, as depicted in phantom lines. This dome would beconnected to the similar outer rim portions 1 by the curved connectionlocations or joints 12. Moreover, as previously mentioned, the rimportions 1 and central region or portion 2 of the inventive cymbal canbe considered to be formed from a spherical segment.

Continuing, it will be recognized that with the inventive constructionof cymbal, there is provided a central suspension hole or aperture 3,and with the conventional dome-type cymbal construction there would be asimilar hole or aperture 33 for suspension purposes, which then would beprovided directly at the dome 22. I

The invention further contemplates that the wall thickness of thelenslike, curved, fiat bowl or plate defining the inventive cymbal caneither decrease towards its edge or can be approximately uniformthroughout. Furthermore, it should be mentioned for completeness thatinstead of the circular-shaped sectional form, it would also be possibleto use a different continuous curve without the dome in order to formthe inventive cymbal.

It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that theobjects set forth at the outset to the specification have beensuccessfully achieved.

lclaim:

l. A cymbal in the form of a shallow concave disc having a substantiallyconstant curvature along any surface thereof lying in a plane containingany diameter.

2. A cymbal as defined in claim 1, wherein said shallow concave disc isdefined by a spherical segment.

3. A cymbal as defined in claim 2, wherein the wall thickness of saiddisc is approximately uniform throughout.

4. A cymbal as defined in claim 2, wherein the wall thickness of saiddisc decreases towards its edge.

5. A cymbal as defined in claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of saiddisc is approximately uniform throughout.

6. A cymbal as defined in claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of saiddisc decreases towards its edge.

